“Come on, Summer.What’s up with us?That was Kirk’s question.I have some thoughts.I’d love to hear yours.”
He doesn’t want to hear my thoughts.My thoughts are none of his damn business because my thoughts are wrong and far-fetched and so ridiculous that I shouldn’t even have them.
Declan is the last person on earth I want to sharemy thoughtswith.Because all my thoughts are abouthim.And how I’m about ready to burst my seams and say something I’ll regret for the rest of my life.
“Summer.Look at me.”
I raise my eyes to his face.I love that face.I love that man, and I always have.But I’m unable to speak.I think it’s the first time in my life that I have nothing to bring to a conversation.
Declan takes a long time to speak.He continues to search my face until he drops his gaze.When he finally says something, he talks to his shoes.
“I won’t get in the way of your date.But I’m getting bottle service.No more wine shit.”
“Thank goodness.Wine gives me a headache.Jack and Coke for me.”
He lifts his eyes once more.“That’s my girl,” he says, smiling.It’s his normal sly and mischievous grin, too, not something fake or angry.He’s back to being my Declan, and that makes me indescribably happy.
Maybe I’ll get out of this night with my world—and my heart—intact.
We return to the VIP room, ready to get on with it, ready to start this double-date night in earnest.We’ve cleared the air between us.At least we tried to.And now it’s going to be just fine between us.
The booth is empty, and the wine bottles are gone.
“Where the hell did they go?”Declan asks.
“Is that a note?”I point to a cocktail napkin propped up against the half-devoured plate of lobster-stuffed thingamabobs.
Declan grabs the napkin.His American Express card falls out onto the table.He palms the card and shoves it into the pocket of his suit trousers.I watch him scan the note, and then he hands the napkin to me.I detect two very different styles of handwriting.
The top note takes up nearly the whole napkin: “Happy New Year, Declan!Don’t wait up for me.Like, ever.I’ll get my shit from the room and then I’m off to have fun with Kirk.I wish I never gave you a free scoop.Asshole.–Bryttni.”
The second is a lot shorter: “Have fun with your brother.”
CHAPTER 16
Declan
“This is the best Jack Daniels I’ve ever blunk,” Summer says, though I can barely hear her.She’s always claimed she can hold her liquor, but I know better.She’s a total lightweight.
Why’s it so hard to hear in this place?
“That’s because it’s kateela!”I shout at her.“I mean takoola.Tequila!”I snap my fingers.“That’s it.Tequila!”
“Then what happened to Jack Daniels?”
“I think you drank him.”
She stares into her glass.“I did?Then who have you been drinking?”
“Cap’n Morgan!No, that’s not him.Johnny Walker?”
“You sure it wasn’t Jose Cuervo?”
“No, that’s your guy.Whoever my guy was, he sure went down smooth.Smooth as ice on glass.”I slice my hand through the air to show her just how smooth that is.She nods, understanding what I’m getting at.
Summer always understands what I’m getting at.
“You have very nice hands,” she says.“I don’t think I’ve ever told you that.But they’re graceful, like a woman’s hands.”
